Energy Resources Note Sheets (A) 7 th Grade Environmental Science. Nuclear Note Sheet

Transcription

1 Energy Resources Note Sheets (A) 7 th Grade Environmental Science Mrs. Krempa Nuclear Note Sheet Name Date & Section Be detailed in your answers during the presentations these are your only notes! You can use your book too 1. Define Nuclear fission. A reaction in which the nucleus of a large atom is split into smaller nuclei. Gives off A LOT of energy! 2. Nuclear power plants (fission reactors) - how they work & produce electricity? (diagram below) Atoms are split (fission) in the reactor vessel. The heat from fission is used to boil water and make steam. The steam turns a turbine that turns a generator that makes electricity. The hot water is then cooled and re-condensed by another loop of water running to the cooling towers. (pg. 538) Fuel used? Uranium Problems? Meltdown, fuel rod storage, potential for radiation leaks, potential terrorism 3. Define chain reaction Continuous nuclear fission. Fission that keeps going, and going Sub-atomic particle released Neutron 4. What do Control rods do & what are they made of? Control the rate of a nuclear reaction. The lower the rods are the more neutrons are caught, the slower the reaction = less heat. Made of Cadmium and Boron. 5. Pros No air pollution Expensive to build & maintain Small amounts of fuel needed to generate potential nuclear accidents A LOT of electricity disposal of radioactive waste Plants usually safer than coal-fired plants 6. Define nuclear fusion The process by which two atomic nuclei fuse to become one larger nucleus. Creates a HUGE amount of energy in the form of f light and heat. What does it have to do with the sun? The sun is a fusion reactor! can we use it? (Problems?) We do not have the technology to control a fusion reaction. Try having the sun in your basement!

2 8. What happened at the three sites listed below? Be descriptive! Three Mile Island (TMI) 1979, Near Harrisburg, PA. Valve to the cooling system stuck shut, power plant overheated and started to melt down. Had to flood building with water to cool reactor down. A small amount of radioactive steam was released into the atmosphere. No injuries or death. Was a PARTIAL meltdown. Chernobyl 1986, Ukraine. Old, out of date plant with inexperienced workers. Control rods made of graphite. Reactor got too hot, graphite rods caught fire, containment building exploded releasing a major amount of radiation. 30 killed instantly, 100,00 + had to be permanently relocated, most animals in area were killed. Many cases of cancer and birth defects. Will not be livable for 100,000 years. Fukushima A powerful undersea 9.0-magnitude earthquake (one of the strongest earthquakes in recorded history) rocked Japan. Within minutes, powerful and destructive tsunami waves washed ashore. 1. reactors automatically executed emergency shut-down procedures. 2. most severely damaged nuclear plant was Tokyo Electric Power Company's (TEPCO) Fukushima Daiichi (Die eech- ee) facility, located 150 miles (240 km) north of Tokyo. 3. damage and power failures in both the primary and backup systems, caused by the tsunami, disabled the diesel generators that were needed to power the pumps that circulate coolant and remove excess heat from the reactor core. Even with the reactors shut down and the fission chain reaction stopped, residual heating (try turning off your oven ) caused at least three reactors to overheat when the backup battery power to the cooling pumps ran out 4. Overheating produced a series of hydrogen gas explosions that damaged the outermost containment shells covering each of the reactors. 5. Three of the seven reactors at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant suffered full meltdowns 6. Water draining from the Fukushima facility, sprayed in an attempt to cool reactors and refill spent fuel rod cooling pools, spilled back into the sea 7. Found radioactively contaminated meat, seafood, milk, vegetables, and tea being exported from Japan 9. Can nuclear power plants create a nuclear explosion? Why or why not? NO! Not the right kind of fuel or enough of it at a plant to create a nuclear explosion. 10. What is the greatest source of radiation to people in the US? Why? Radon gas. Naturally occurring radioactive gas in Earth s crust. That s why it is often found in basements radon leaks in from surrounding bedrock. Geothermal, Biomass etc. Fact Note Sheet Be detailed in your answers during the presentations these are your only notes! You can use your book too 1. Define biomass energy. Energy made from biomass (material that makes up living organisms - wood, manure, grain) that is used for cooking, heating, powering motor vehicles or generating electricity. 2. Biofuels Liquid fuels from biomass sources Ethanol What Alcohol based alternative fuel made by the process of fermentation. Gasohol How used name of gas after ethanol is added US use added to gasoline to reduce CO2 emissions Plant used Corn

3 Biomass Pros Renewable, inexpensive, using materials that are leftover/unwanted burning does release pollutants (CO2) 3. Trash to steam plant in hohocken. Take the unrecyclable trash from Philly and burn it. Boil water to turn turbine to turn generator to make electricity. What a great way to get rid of trash!! 4. Define geothermal energy. Energy produced (generated) by heat from the earth s interior. use as heating (homes): Well drilled, closed loop of pipes run. Water always 55 degrees. Cold water from well used to heat and cool house. Diagram below. My house! Basically free air conditioning in the summer. And hot water too! How does it make electricity? Wells drilled into areas of land (5) where magma is close to surface. Superheated water (1) piped back up as steam to turn turbines (3) that turn generators and make electricity. See diagram below. Where in the world is it actually used to create electricity? California, Iceland, the Philippines, New Zealand, Indonesia Geothermal Pros Free source of heat Expensive to make & maintain pollution that happens during generation corrosion to facility from environment location can only be certain places, have to have magma source

4 5. Describe Hydrogen power. Source of energy that changes water to electricity. Uses a Fuel cell to steal hydrogen from water, create electricity, then put the water back together. Only emission is water! Uses: Alternate fuel option for cars, boats, public transportation etc. Where in the world is it used today? California, Brazil, Seattle, Washington Hydrogen Pros Produces water not pollutants available Refills quickly, no noise Difficult to store, not readily high cost, Short range for vehicles 6. Describe energy from the tides. Using the flow of the tides to generate electricity. Almost like a windmill under water! Where does it have to be used in an area of high tidal change Tidal Power Pros: non-polluting renewable (tides flow all the time) free (after equipment is built!) damage to bottom (benthic) community in ocean potential harm sea life Not everywhere has a big enough tide swing

5 Energy Resources Coal Note Sheet Be detailed in your answers during the presentations these are your only notes! You can use your book too 1. What is coal? How is it made? (Include carbon content & burning). Coal is a solid fossil fuel. Millions of years ago swamp plants died and were covered with sediment. Millions of years of heat and pressure changed plant material in to solid rock (coal). As time goes on the carbon content in the plant matter increases (more concentrated). More carbon means more energy when burned. 2. The original energy source in coal is the sun. remains of swamp plants how do plants get energy? They photosynthesize with energy from the sun! 3. What are the four main types of coal? Briefly explain each. Stage 1: Peat Explanation: Brittle, brown plant material. Not really considered coal. Stage 2: Lignite Explanation: Soft, brown coal. First form of true coal. Stage 3: Bitumiunous Explanation: Soft coal. Purer form of coal, burns cleaner, less impurities. Used to generate electricity. Stage 4: Anthracite Explanation: Hard coal, shiny, black. A metamorphic rock. Best coal (cleanest burning) but expensive due to location (deep underground). * More carbon means more energy when burned. Anthracite has the highest carbon content so is the cleanest burning and has the most energy. 3. What is the first form of true coal? Lignite 4. What stage of coal is most often used to heat houses & burns cleanly? Anthracite 5. Coal use? Burned to boil water to make steam to make electricity, used to be burned to heat homes. 6. Pros of using Coal of using Coal Inexpensive to get and use Releases sulfur dioxide that makes acid rain Mining disturbs environment / habitats Lowers water table, pollutes water Causes smog *increases CO2 that leads to global warming 7. What is the most serious environmental threat of using fossil fuels? Role in greenhouse effect? *Increases CO2 that leads to global warming. CO2 is a greenhouse gas - a gas that stops the Earth s atmosphere from letting the heat from the sun escape back into space. CO2 helps trap the heat on the Earth, causing Global Warming. 8. How is coal mined? Sub-surface dig shafts underground, remove coal. Also see # What fossil fuel is predicted to last the longest? Coal (a lot of it around) 10. Which country has the most coal? Which uses the most? USA has the most coal, China uses the most 12. Mountain top removal digging up and taking away a whole mountain to get at the coal inside

6 Petroleum & Natural Gas Note Sheet Be detailed in your answers during the presentations these are your only notes! You can use your book too 1. How are Petroleum & Natural Gas made? Petroleum is a liquid fossil fuel. Natural gas is a gaseous fossil fuel. Remains of plants and animals living in the sea (oceans / Marine environment) covered by sediments. Heat & pressure over millions of years changes the remains to either a thick, syrupy liquid or gas. 3. What is petroleum mainly used for? Fuel for transportation gasoline, diesel, jet fuel 4. Petroleum products (besides gas) Grease, tires, soap, paint, asphalt (blacktop), nylon / rayon & polyester (synthetic fibers), plastics, makeup, bubble gum 5. Petroleum where found underground in the spaces between the particles of rock (like a sponge) Undergound pools sits in the holes (spaces, pores) in rock way underground. How is petroleum gotten? Drilled. Long pipe dug straight down in to petroleum pocket 6. Crude oil unrefined (not changed) raw oil from the ground. Refining changing the crude oil, breaking it down into simpler substances to be used as a fuel 7. Where is natural gas found in the ground? in the spaces between the particles of rock (like a sponge) trapped in pockets on top of petroleum deposits 8. What are the main gasses in Natural gas? Methane, butane, propane 9. How is natural gas used? Home heating, stoves, water heaters, clothes dryers, camping stoves, grills 10. Why is natural gas energy efficient? No need to change or refine it. Can be used as is, burned for heat no need to change it to Electricity like coal or oil. 11. Hot new form of energy natural gas - easy to get, inexpensive, easy to transport, fuel efficient 7. Pros of using Petroleum & Natural Gas of using Petroleum & Natural Gas Inexpensive to get and use Releases sulfur dioxide that makes acid rain Mining disturbs environment / habitats Lowers water table, pollutes water Causes smog *increases CO2 that leads to global warming

7 Wind, Water & Solar Energy Note Sheet Be detailed in your answers during the presentations these are your only notes! You can use your book too 1. What is Solar energy? The energy received by the Earth from the sun in the form of radiation. How does the sun produce energy? Nuclear fusion (joining of hydrogen & helium) Describe indirect solar energy: Changing the heat or light from the sun into another form of energy Examples: PV cells, wind energy, water cycle Describe direct solar energy: using the heat or light energy from the sun without changing it Examples: passive solar, active solar, greenhouses Define photovoltaic cell: thin semiconductor wafer that directly changes the light energy from the sun to electricity Uses (now & future): Now calculators, small toys, watches Future - cars, houses, buildings Define passive solar. (know the diagram) When a building faces south and lets the sun naturally come in the windows for heat. No pumps, fans, collector plates just the sun s warmth! uses of: Heat a house or building

8 Define active solar. (know the diagram) When flat plate collectors use the sun s heat to heat water for use in a building. Flat plate collector black box with black tubes with water pumped through so the sun can heat the water. Placed in the roof of a building. uses of: Hot water for showers, dishes, pools Positives: non-polluting, free energy source, sun always will shine Negatives: Need a backup system for cloudy days, expensive to start Solar Power Towers a field of mirrors where the suns light is concentrate don a tower in the middle. The heat from all the mirrors boils water in the tower that makes steam and makes electricity!

9 5. Define Hydroelectric energy. Changing the energy in moving water into electricity AKA: Kinetic (moving) energy How do power plants work? 1. Water flows over turbine 2. turbine spins generator, 3. generator makes electricity. See diagram below. Effects to land and water ecosystems? Habitat destruction ( lake where the wasn t one before, cement dam across bottom), blocks fish migration, colder water released from bottom of dam Hydroelectric Pros Renewable, inexhaustible resource Free (once equipment is built) 7. Define wind energy Use of the wind to generate electricity. Expensive to build Damage to aquatic ecosystems & organisms Not every river can have a dam, running out of rivers What causes wind? The sun s uneven heating of the Earth s surface causes wind. What is a wind turbine (aerogenerator)? A windmill that makes electricity How do they work? Blades are the turbines that spin the generator that makes electricity Standard (typical) windmill See below. Spin on a vertical axis. Need higher wind speeds, make a good amount of electricity.

10 Darrieus Rotor See below. Also know n as eggbeaters. Turn on a horizontal axis. Can work in lower wind speeds, but produce less electricity. History of windmills used for thousands of years to propel ships, grind grain and mill lumber. Now do you understand the name wind mill? A mill powered by the wind Windmill farms are clusters of windmills all in one spot to generate more electricity. Windmill Pros non-polluting free energy source (the wind will blow!) loud take up space birds fly into vanes (blades) expensive to first build A renewable energy source can become non-renewable if the energy source is used faster than it can be replenished. Example: logging a forest and not replanting any trees.